Czech PM plans brief meeting with Zelenskyy in Yerevan

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has said he does not intend to visit Ukraine, but plans to hold a brief face-to-face meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a visit to Armenia, where both leaders are expected to attend the European Political Community summit.

In an interview with the iDNES.cz portal, Babiš said the meeting would take place in Yerevan, but did not disclose the specific topics to be discussed. This meeting will be his first face-to-face meeting with Zelenskyy since taking office as prime minister.

"There I will also hold brief bilateral meetings with UK Prime Minister Starmer, the prime minister of Serbia and the president of Moldova. For the first time, I will also hold talks with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy," Babiš said, outlining his summit schedule after visits to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

"It is important that we meet," he added, commenting on the planned talks with the Ukrainian leader.

Despite the planned meeting, Babiš said he has no intention of visiting Ukraine.

"No, I will not go to Kyiv," he said.

However, he noted that another opportunity to meet Zelenskyy could arise in the future at a conference in Poland dedicated to Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Babiš, according to iDNES.cz, is to visit Armenia on May 3 to take part in the European Political Community summit, where leaders are expected to discuss energy and economic security, the current geopolitical situation and efforts to strengthen stability across Europe.

Earlier it was reported that the European Political Community summit will take place in Yerevan on May 4. Forty-eight heads of government and state have been invited, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.